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There has been a lot of focus on the defending against West Ham, but the one thing from an attacking point of view that concerned me was not playing to Christian Benteke's strengths.

The wide players were hardly getting the ball and putting it into the box to give him service. When they did, there was nobody else in the box to feed off Benteke.

They should be getting closer to him, whether it's Coutinho, Firmino, or whoever.

The one bright spot was Danny Ings when he came on. I thought he did really well.

He looked very lively, like he could make things happen, and I think the lad can do well for us.

He's definitely given the manager something to think about. Rodgers could sometimes put him up top along with Benteke, or even in behind. We could be better off doing that.

In fact, he might be the perfect man to play alongside Benteke against United. With Coutinho suspended, there's a space that needs filling, and Ings should be the one to come in the replace him. He's a good player.

Danny Ings comes on to replace Roberto Firmino of Liverpool during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United on August 29, 2015 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

I suppose Firmino would be another option, but where does he play? He was all over the pitch on Saturday. He had a great effort which hit the bar but then went missing a bit before being taken off.

I don't think the negativity after the game is an overreaction, they were beaten 3-0 at home after all.

When teams sit back, you have to get the ball around Benteke.

Once they get the early goal, we never looked like we could score. Daniel Sturridge can open things up when he comes back, but in the meantime, Ings will do a job.

I've noticed Divock Origi hasn't played a minute in the league yet, but he just has to be patient, wait for his opportunity and take it.

There are lots of games this season in the League Cup and Europa League, he just has to make sure when he does get a game he scores and gives himself an opportunity.

One player it certainly won't be is Fabio Borini, who has moved to Sunderland. It's a good move for both him and Liverpool.

He doesn't want to be training with reserves and we've got good money for him, especially when you think what we bought him for.

It's for his own good. He doesn't want to be festering, he wants to play, he's still a young lad so good luck to him.

Lovren has put himself back under pressure

You can't ignore the defending against West Ham either. To concede three goals at Anfield is a bit worrying, especially given Palace beat us 3-1 not so long ago, and of course Stoke put six past us.

The defeat was so unexpected and so out of the blue, but the defending was schoolboy stuff. Everyone knows about it.

I thought we'd sorted it out in the past few games and defended well - then all of a sudden, that happens.

What's it down to? Is it complacency? I don't know. We all know about the mistakes that were made.

Lovren has done well in the past few games, but for whatever reason – whether it was a mental block or whatever – he didn't on Saturday. And then there was Martin Skrtel's header for the first goal, too. Give West Ham credit, they capitalised on it.

There is only one way to put that performance to bed, and that's the game at Old Trafford.

Lovren and Skrtel have to prove the first three games of the season, conceding no goals, wasn't a fluke, and that West Ham was a one-off.

They can do that by going to Manchester United and keeping a clean sheet. United have only scored three goals and going forward, they're not the major threat they used to be.

Should he change his back line? I don't know. The manager knows better than us. Does he think the West Ham game was just a one-off?

Lovren has put himself back under pressure now, so it's a tough one for the manager. Liverpool went into the game expecting to win it, and now they have to regroup and kick on.

Liverpool's Dejan Lovren is dejected during the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool

Europa League draw was decent - and it had to be

The Europa League draw was decent for us and you would expect them to get through it.

Rubin Kazan and Bordeaux are both experienced, but Sion less so. So it's a decent draw.

It will be useful for the lads that need a game. The likes of Bogdan, Sakho, Toure, Allen, even Flanagan when he's back fit. There's also the likes of Lallana, Origi, Ings, Rossiter and even Sturridge when he's finding fitness.

These players will all need games.

When we play away, the manager could leave the team he plans to play in the league that weekend back at home. That's how strong the squad is. We have the best group of back-up players in some time and the Europa League gives us a chance to utilise that and give them good game time.

At home, you can mix and match, and look to get the nine points.

It's a cup Liverpool have to stay in, especially with the winners getting Champions League football. That's the carrot for them.

Diafra Sakho scores the third goal for West Ham Reuters / Eddie Keogh

Gap seems to have closed in Premier League

A lot of teams below are catching up, and they are proving that it isn't necessarily about spending big, but spending wisely.

There are some genuinely good buys out there. We got one in Joe Gomez, who didn't cost us much at all.

It just goes to show if you have a good scouting network, then you can bring the right sort of player in – and money is not always needed to get them.